CHAPTER 05

THALIA ISABELLE

“Follow me to the garden now,” I told to Giovanni as soon as I composed myself and breathe hardly. I made my way into the garden. The sun is setting to the west letting the darkness dominates the skies.

I felt his presence behind me so I cleared my throat and made myself ready for our talks.

“You’re going to stay here in the house,” I said to him and I felt him sit down beside me, I am trying to control myself to not look in his direction although my body wants to. “I am grateful for that,” he said and I snort.

“My parents knew about our marriage and they want to meet you tomorrow,” I said and made a schedule for their meeting. I heard him chuckle and stretch his arms forward. “I am wondering why your father did not blow my plane as soon as I entered the country’s airspace,” he commented so I rolled my eyes.

“You’re not a threat in our underground business what we have is a personal thing but if you wish to die then let me pull the trigger from your beloved gun so it will be memorable,” I said to him and I can’t control myself anymore so I look at him.

I caught him staring at me with his brown and cold eyes, the sunset’s rays gave justice to his brown eyes. I used to stare at his eyes and admire them for being beautiful. But that was before and I am not going to do it this time.

“I wished but not anymore because I’ve seen how beautiful my wife is,” he said and smirk at me. “Whatever. As what I am saying, they knew so you don’t have to hide anything from them,” I simply said and look at the orange mixed with pink colors of clouds above.

“In addition, if you’re going to stay in my house know your limits, Giovanni,” I said in an authoritative voice so he will know that I am dead serious about it. “What limitations?” he asked.

“Don’t touch anything from this house, you can’t enter my room---actually nobody is allowed to enter my room without my permission. And lastly, don’t mind my business,” I said to him and he nodded. “I will keep those in my mind,” he said.

“I guess Hansel showed your prepared room?” I asked him and stood up because I can’t stay long in a small space with him. “He did,” Giovanni answered so I nodded and breathe heavily. I am about to go inside when I remember something.

“I don’t want any disrespectful things inside my house and you are my husband on the paper only so know your place and instance in this house, did you get me?” I asked him and he looked at me darkly. “We are still married, Thalia. Even in sense of being a husband and wife not just on papers,” he backfired.

I smiled at him mockingly.

“Nevertheless, it’s still written on a paper that easily burns, just like how you burned our marriage,” I said to him and I don’t have to hear the words he will say about our damn marriage because it will just be all nonsense.

In the evening, Hansel cooked us for our dinner and we are currently eating right now. Giovanni and I are seated across the table and I am not glancing at him even for once. That’s why the atmosphere here is heavy and uncomfortable because of us but I don’t give a fuck and I am too emotionally drained to give even a single damn.

“We will go to my parents’ house at seven in the morning,” I commanded and they all nodded except for Giovanni who stops from eating. “That’s too early,” he complained so I wipe the excess food on my mouth using the disposable table napkin.

“I am not asking for anyone’s opinion about the time,” I told to him and stood up. I lost my appetite to eat more. “I appreciate your cooking skills, Hansel. It’s superb,” I said to him, and smiled at me. I went straight to my room and locked it.

While lying on the bed and absorbing what happened today I can’t help but get teary-eyed because regardless of the time we are apart, the wound and scars are still here. I stared outside my window and the moonlight lit my room, I raise my hand and imagined that I can touch the full moon.

I keep staring at it until I can feel my eyes getting heavier and drive into the dreamland.

I woke up with a series of knocks on my door so in a bad mood, I went to the door and open it. I saw Giovanni’s worried face. “What the hell is your problem, Giovanni?!” I asked him irritated; it irritates me whenever my sleep is disrupted.

“I-I thought something bad happened to you because it’s already six in the morning and we have to travel for minutes or an hour to your parent's house,” he said and my irritation subsided as I remember what I said last night.

“Okay,” I said and closed the door for him, and locked it. I am going to prepare myself and do my daily routine to myself. My eyes went to a teddy bear that is wrapped in plastic; I will just give it to my Austin. He’s the son of my brother and his wife. He is two years old.

Carrying the teddy bear with my left hand and my right hand holding my tote bag I went into the living area and I saw them waiting for me. “Let me just drink a coffee,” I told to them and put my things on a chair beside the staircase.

Hansel, Silver, and Giovanni are in the kitchen and they are all eating breakfast. “I prepared your food,” Giovanni stated and I stop from walking to stare at him.

Him? Did he prepare food for me?

“Don’t worry, I am not going to kill you with your food,” Giovanni said and I nodded.

“I am just wondering on how you managed to do it because this is not you, Giovanni. You’re the man whom I know will never do these things for me,” I straightforwardly said and that earned a cough from Silver. “Burn, boss,” he teased but the receiver looks at Silver.

“Do you want me to burn you instead?” Giovanni asked him and Silver paled from his spot. “I got you, Silver,” I assured him and rolled my eyes at Giovanni. “Keep these men with you, Giovanni. You can never replace them, you may find someone but you can never replace them in your life,” I told to him and Hansel and Silver look at me with their teary-eyed so my forehead creased.

“Oh my god, those words are enough to heal my wounds,” Silver emotionally stated so I just chuckled. I can never steal their loyalty to their master.

I drove my way to Manila where my parents’ house is located and they are just following my car, I can’t stay in a close space with Giovanni because it suffocates me and I might kill him instead. The guard in our subdivision recognized my car so I stop at the gate so I can talk to him.

“Those two cars are with me,” I politely said to him and he nodded at me so I open my wallet and fished for a yellow bill as a tip for him. “Ma’am, you don’t have to do this but I am beyond grateful,” he said so I smiled at him.

I heard a car horn at me so I look at the side mirror and I saw Hansel waving at me so I just shook my head. I park the car on the sidewalk as soon as I reach my parents’ house.

“So, this is your parents’ house?” Giovanni asked as he eyed the tall and dark gate in front of us.

“Yes, let’s get inside,” I told to them and place my finger on the scanner, and the gate intended for a person opened. I am carrying a teddy bear in my other hand together with my tote bag.

“Ms. Thalia, we are unidentified people here, are you sure there is no hidden gun that will shoot us immediately?” Hansel asked and they are just standing in front of the gate and I laugh my ass out because of his question.

“Answer the question, Thalia, damn it!” Giovanni stated and I saw him getting pissed at me every second that pass in his life. I want to laugh at him but I must look serious to add more tension to his body.

“No,” I said and I can’t stop myself from laughing so Hansel pushed me. “Quit laughing, Ms. Thalia.”

I can see the fascination in their eyes as they see the exterior design of my parents’ house. “This house screams extravagant and authority,” Giovanni commented and his eyes wandered to different spots in the house. “This house is owned by a former mafia boss,” Hansel commented and I nodded.

“Ms. Thalia, I guessed you used to play in that spot,” Silver said and pointed his finger at the garden and I smiled at him. “You got it,” I said to him and I invited them to enter the house and meet my parents.

I opened the door and I saw my parents and my brother with his wife sitting on the sofa. “If her brother punches you, boss. Don’t fight back,” Hansel said to his boss. If he hurts my brother or anyone in my family, I will not hesitate to hurt him back.

My knees tremble a little when my brother approaches us and I gulp when I see the madness in his eyes while his fists are closed. Oh, God.

“Thalia, move,” Harris coldly ordered so I made it. In seconds, Giovanni is lying on the floor and my mother and his wife gasped at what he did. “Fuck you, Giovanni!” my brother said and punches him again.

“Thalia, what are you waiting for?! Stop your brother from beating your husband!” My mother angrily said and even glared at me so I heave a deep sigh. I hold my brother’s hand that is going to land on Giovanni’s face.

“If you want twelve rounds to punch him I will give you the permission but not in this house,” I calmly said to him and he glared at me but I just arc my eyebrow so he let Giovanni on the cold floor. With what I said my mother hit me in my ass. “Thalia Isabelle!” she shouted but I just scratch my eyebrow and did not speak.

Hansel and the others are just watching Giovanni on the floor and I know that they are afraid to move so I extended my hand to help Giovanni stand. “Your brother’s punches are so hard, it made me lose my senses for a while,” Giovanni said and wipe the blood on his lip and nose.

I saw the effect of my brother’s punches on him because some part of his face reddened.

“Harris, it is not right to hit your visitor,” Daddy said to my brother but I do not see any remorse on his face. Giovanni cleared his throat. “I deserve the punches, Mr. Lamnelle,” he is determined with what he said.

“At least you know,” I whispered and I saw him smirk that earned a roll of eyes from me. “Well, we are going to stay outside, Mr. Lamnelle,” Hansel said to my father and he just nodded without taking his stare on Giovanni.

They bowed and left us immediately and what’s funny is they even rushed to come outside.

“Have a seat,” my mother said and even guide Giovanni while my sister-in-law clutch her arm on me and leaned to whisper in my ear. “He’s handsome,” she commented and I just snort. “He is but I don’t give a damn about it,” I responded and she just smirks at me.

“Anyway, give this to my nephew,” I said to her and extend my arm to give her the teddy bear. “Oh, it’s so cute! He’ll love this,” she beamed and I just shook my head while laughing because I know it was Audrey who will enjoy this stuffed toy.

I sat down beside Giovanni and he is now holding a cold compress for his bruised face. “I learned from my wife that you want to talk with me,” he said and my father nodded but my brother is staring at him coldly it seems like he is not yet contented with what he did.

“Accurately, we just want to know the man that my daughter married secretly,” my father said and he gave emphasized the word secretly so I just take it as a blow to release some frustration because it is not necessary to point it out. “I’m Giovanni Flynn Brickser, CEO of Brickser Corporation, Sir.”

“I know you,” Papa said meaningfully and Giovanni gulped. “As much as possible, I don’t want my daughter to be married to anyone who is part of underground society. I want my daughter to live peacefully away from danger and death,” Papa straightforwardly said so I look at Giovanni and he avoided our gazes.

“I will not abolish our marriage, Sir if that’s what you are trying to say,” Giovanni said with determination in his voice so my eyes widened.

What the hell?! What the fuck is he thinking?!

I saw my father smile for the first time at a stranger and it gives me chills to my spine. “How determined you are but you made her life live like hell when she’s in your house, my wife carried that child for nine months in her womb and we took care of her delicately like a crystal ball,” Papa bluntly said. My mouth opens and I saw Giovanni fidgeting his fingers.

“I admit that fault, Sir,” Giovanni said and my father nodded. The awkward silence between us is killing me slowly because this is not supposed to turn out like this. “Aren’t you going to defend your husband, Thalia Isabelle?” Papa said. I closed my eyes tightly because his attention is on me. “No, Papa, I am not his lawyer,” I said and trying to lift the mood but Papa just shoot me with his dagger looks.

“Anyway, I kinda remember you, aren’t you her client before?” Audrey speaks up and Giovanni nodded.

“Oh really?! Unexpected romance it is!” Mama awkwardly beamed but Papa immediately cleared his throat. “Come on, Honey. They are already adults and they know what they are going to do,” Mama said and she smiled at us so I did to her.

“I don’t care,” Papa stubbornly said and I just chuckled. “This is the last chance, Giovanni. I don’t care who you are and what your capabilities are but once my daughter comcomesme running to me looking broken like she was two years ago, blood will shed,” Papa said with his authoritative voice and stood up from his seat. Mama followed him.

I blink multiple times, what happened?

Papa went to the staircase and he faced us and pointed his finger at Giovanni. “We’ll talk,” Papa said calmly but power is included in his voice. Giovanni immediately stood up. “Giovanni, don’t hurt my father or else,” I told him and he smiled at me but it didn’t reach his ears, it was a fake smile.

“I won’t,” he said and he walk away to follow my father. I have a deep sigh and I look at my brother who is raising his eyebrow at me. “What? Do you want to tell me something?” I asked him. He stood up and sat down beside me.

“Aren’t you mad that I punched your husband?” he asked me.

My forehead creased and shook my head. “No, because he deserves it but I hope this will be the last time, Harris,” I said to my brother and he snorted. “Harris, you like violence but remember he is part of your family whether you accept it or not,” his wife said and I saw him roll his eyes.

“I still don’t like him but if I find him being worthy of my so-called brother-in-law then so be it,” Harris said and kissed my forehead before going upstairs and maybe he wants to join the meeting of Giovanni and Papa. Probably he wants to listen to their discussion or better he wants to gossip.

“Everything will be fine, love,” Audrey sweetly said to me and held my hand tightly. I just look down on the marble floor of our living room.